Sunday nights throughout childhood were spent on a kitchen chair in front of Esther Rantzen’s That’s Life! as my father rubbed olive oil (bought in tiny bottles from the chemist) into my dry, flaky scalp. It was enjoyable until the next day, when my greased hair drooped and the itchiness and flakes crept back. It wasn’t until later I learned that while moisturising helps a dry scalp, unless dead skin is removed at the same time you are basically gluing down flakes pending their resurrection.

While the afro hair industry has always understood this, the caucasian and mainstream brands have been slow to catch up. Only recently have effective – and weirdly satisfying – scalp-soothing exfoliators become available. Among them is Bumble & bumble’s Scalp Detox (£25, 150ml), a mousse containing micellar water and salicylic acid to exfoliate away dry flakes and remove itchy-product buildup (if you are a devout dry shampoo user, this one is for you). You apply weekly, pre-shampoo, direct from the nozzle, and work into the scalp. Instantly you hear the fizzy, sizzling sound of it dissolving what feels like months’ worth of product. It is an odd sensation, but it works within minutes – my hair was spotlessly clean and fuller, while my clearer scalp felt neither oily nor dry.

Equally innovative is IGK Trust Issues (£25, 228ml), a vegan spray that contains the skincare wonder ingredient hyaluronic acid, to hydrate and soothe dry, angry scalps. This calms itchiness immediately without requiring you to wash your hair and risk exacerbating the problem. It cools right away, hydrating and comforting the skin without adding grease (if you have a dehydrated complexion and a flaky scalp, this is your saviour).

Like the idea, but are unconvinced at these prices? I have no reservation in suggesting that you pour supermarket sea salt flakes, such as Cornish sea salt (£2.45, 150g), into shampoo and rub energetically into the scalp pre-shower. The salt dissolves, taking with it any loose skin, leaving behind neither grease nor flake. Like everything above, it is cruelty free.

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